LOS ANGELES, CA.- The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) announced today gifts of $75,000 each from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and Time Warner Cable, in partnership with Ovation TV, to extend continuous film programming through next summer. In addition, Time Warner Cable and Ovation TV have made an in-kind contribution of over $1.5 million to market the film program across their multiple media platforms, both locally and nationally. The donations follow the museum’s decision to suspend the weekend portion of the program as part of a larger restructuring to address the program’s lack of donor support and diminishing audiences, and the desire to rebuild a more substantial and sustainable film department as a core curatorial program.
LACMA Director Michael Govan said, “In a tight budget year when many programs were reduced, we suspended the weekend film series in order to rebuild its foundations. We’ve been incredibly impressed by the public outcry of support for film at LACMA, and thrilled that just a few weeks later, the first new sponsors have stepped forward. We’re grateful to the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, Time Warner Cable, and Ovation TV, for expressing their tangible support for the art of film at LACMA, and we’re very pleased that we can keep film rolling while we build for the future. Our goal is to create a field-leading film department that captures the ever-growing importance of film and moving images in the history of art.”
LACMA hopes that the grants from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, Time Warner Cable, and Ovation TV, will launch a larger effort to engage the film and media community in supporting film and art at LACMA. Next week Michael Govan will meet with members of the community who spearheaded a petition to support the continuation of the weekend film program.
LACMA’s goals for its future film program include securing sustainable philanthropic support that provides a larger and more appropriate budget and affords more outreach and events to create broader awareness for the program overall. However, most importantly, the museum also intends to create a Film Department within the curatorial sphere of the museum that will be charged with critical thinking about the history and future of film as art as well as film's increasing importance in the larger narrative of art history. “As the largest art museum in Los Angeles, LACMA should be at the forefront of the consideration and presentation of how film has played an ever-increasing role in contemporary art and life,” said Govan.
Philip Berk, President of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, noted, “LACMA has a longstanding commitment to presenting classic movies to the Los Angeles public. We are proud to help continue that legacy as part of our own commitment to film-related philanthropy.”
Steve Pagano, Executive Vice President of Time Warner Cable’s West Region, added, “Our partnership with Ovation TV is another meaningful way that connects us directly with the community we serve and, in particular, those of us who are passionate about art and culture. LACMA’s film program has clearly touched the Los Angeles community, and we are proud to partner with Ovation TV to help sustain LACMA’s efforts in presenting and preserving film history.”
Charles Segars, CEO of Ovation TV added, “Film is one of the greatest cultural resources and an important part of Ovation TV’s programming lineup. We celebrate the art of filmmaking every week on our air. LACMA’s film program is a Los Angeles cultural treasure. It is an inspiration to Angelenos—whether they are aspiring filmmakers or just appreciate the art form. And that is why Ovation TV has partnered with Time Warner Cable to keep the LACMA film program alive.”
